C.cada is a community for Christian artists to get together and practice their art work whether it be writing, painting, pencil drawings, water-color,  photography, wood carving, musical/instrumental, fabric art, etc.  Pastor J of Lillie-Put is the founder of C.cada (Cornerstone Christian Artist Day Apart) and we were given a group art project back in January of this year. He gave us this writing prompt (He heard the crunch of autumn leaves behind him.  He turned...) that had to be incorporated in the short story somehow and it had to be 500 words or less. All of the short stories will be displayed at the C.cada Art Show this October.  Here is my short story,  The Woods.

The Woods

He heard the crunch of autumn leaves behind him.  He turned slow but sure not to make a sound.  He peered around his son’s favorite oak tree; visibility was difficult for dusk was upon him. Nothing crossed his view, shrugging…

I’m a big fan of to-do lists.  Part of that is because at my age I tend to forget things if not reminded.  The other part is the sense of satisfaction I get when I can begin to check off things off the list.  So when I saw the image below, I said to myself that this must be for me.

Dr. Vince Havner, preacher and writer in the early 1900’s once said, Worry is like sitting in a rocking chair.  It will give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.  Some physicians tell us that 70% if all illnesses are imaginary, the cause being mental distress or worry.  It has been listed by heart specialists as the number one cause of heart trouble.  Psychiatrists tell us that worry breeds nervous…

Corrie ten Boom, “The Hiding Place” (Photo credit: Corrie ten Boom Museum)

“Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out: ‘A fine message, Fräulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!’  And I, who had spoken so glibly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. He would not remember me, of course—how could he remember one prisoner among those thousands of women?

But I remembered him and the leather crop swinging from his belt. I was face-to-face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze.

‘You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk,’ he was saying, ‘I was a guard there.’  No, he did not remember me.  ‘But since that time,’ he went on, ‘I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I…

Corrie ten Boom told the story of a little girl who broke one of her mother’s demi-tasse cups.  The little girl came to her mother sobbing, Oh, Mama, I’m so sorry I broke your beautiful cup.  The mother replied, I know you’re sorry, and I forgive you.  Now don’t cry any more.  The mother then swept up the pieces of the broken cup and placed them in the trash can.

How often do we say the words, “I forgive you,” the question is do we really mean it or feel it in our hearts when we say it?  Personally, I have said theses words, “I forgive you,” and to be completely honest they were just words at the time.  God says we have to forgive, well, I did say the words but that is not what He meant, is it?  I just figured sooner or later if I said the words enough I would eventually feel it and begin to believe it in my heart or so I thought.  I’m here to tell you it does not work that way; you need to have a change of heart.

God states in His word that we must forgive.

Luke 17:3-4 (NLT)³ So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. ⁴ Even if…

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~1 Chronicles 16:34

In this season of my life, focusing on God’s love for me has really stuck the right chord. God’s love is abundant and last forever; which means God will always love me. No matter what I do, He will always love me. I like to focus on God’s love as a foundation in troubled times. When life get’s tough, I know that I will never be without God’s love!

If God’s love endures forever, what exactly does that mean for us Christians? Well, if we look at the “Love Chapter” of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13, we find out.

If God’s love is forever, then we can know that:

• God will always be patient with us (verse 4). No matter how long it’s been since we last came to Him, He will always be…

Most people have probably at least heard of the World War II movie, God Is My Co-Pilot, or the book on which it was based by the same name.  More recently, you might have seen bumper stickers with the same expression.  You might have even thought it sounded nice and very spiritual.  At least until you actually think about it.

The story is told by Rev. Billy Graham of a little girl whose father was an airline pilot.  As they crossed the Atlantic, a storm came up.  The flight attendant awakened the little girl and told her to fasten her seatbelt because they were about to hit some turbulent weather.  The little girl opened her eyes, saw the lightning flash around the plane, and asked, Is Daddy at the controls?  The flight attendant replied, Yes, your father is in the cockpit at the controls.  The little girl smiled…

CUTTING TRUTH TO SHAKE YOUR WORLD

This morning I tuned into “Life Today with James Robison” and the program featured Minister Christine Caine speaking at the “Awaken Now” conference that was held last July at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.

Her message was something that I believe Christians/Believer’s/Kingdom Citizen’s everywhere need to hear either as a reminder of, or introduction to this truth.

Here’s a brief yet profound  mini-clip that I found on YouTube.

Watch and be challenged.

Watch and be motivated.

Watch and be blessed.

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” 

(John 17:15-18 – NIV)

“He said to them, “Go…

So many times when we focus on our circumstances our sight becomes clouded by our tears that we can’t see who’s by our side.  I am a member of C.cada, (Cornerstone Christian Artist Day Apart) for those who do not know what it stands for.  C.cada is where several of us artist get together and work on our art whether it be writing, painting, drawing, singing, instrumentals, wood carving, and fabric art as well. Pastor J at Lillie-Put is the founder of C.cada.  We have a show every October to exhibit some of the art work we have worked on throughout the year. One of our themes this past October was “Reflection.”  I ended up hanging another piece for the exhibit but I have to say below brings to mind “Reflection” as well. I want to reflect Jesus Christ more and more rather than my circumstances.  I am so blessed that I am never…